Sophie always likes to take a bottle of water to school with her in her bag so that she can have a drink at breaktime and, although we often buy small bottles of water for her to take, she often ends up refilling the plastic water bottle to use again. I know that that isn't a good idea really because toxins from the plastic can leech into the drink inside, so when the opportunity came up to review one of the funky water bottles from A Fine Choice, I jumped at the chance.
A Fine Choice are a green company specialising in BPA-free water bottles made out of stainless steel. They explain on their website that stainless steel bottles are the healthier option in comparison with plastic or aluminium water bottles, which have been linked to all sorts of health problems, including cancer and Alzheimer's. (For more specific information, you can visit their news section here.)
The website explains that the bottles from A Fine Choice are made of 18/8 Stainless Steel which is "a non-corrosive, non-leeching, dishwasher safe steel used in flatware and cookware". Unlike aluminium, 18/8 Stainless Steel does not require an enamel or plastic coating as it is a non-porous material and will not transfer taste or smell to liquids. The plastic caps are made from #5 Polypropylene, which is a hard, heat-resistant resin used to manufacture many consumer-grade food containers which is considered to be a 'safe plastic', containing no BPA or phthalates. The paint used is a non-toxic, stress-resistant, water based acrylic that is consumer safe and proven to be totally lead-free.
But what appealed to Sophie was none of this reassuring health and safety information, it was just the funky design and the pretty pattern on the bottle ! I chose a small 350ml bottle because I didn't want her carting around a heavy bottle in her bag all day long (it's the water, not the bottle which is heavy - the 350ml one only weighs 3.8oz), but they are also available in 600ml and 750ml sizes, for adults and even dogs (yes, really !).
We chose the pretty blue Treecycle design (Sophie squealed "ooh that's clever, they've made a picture using the recycling logo!") but there are several funky designs to choose from, including the orange Busy Bee, the green Green Power and the black Starfield, which will all appeal to kids of all ages and both sexes.
Sophie loves the sports cap and the metal clip for attaching it to the side of her bag for easy access in the playground. It has also been totally leakproof so far (fingers crossed !) and has resisted being bashed about in her bag along with her books and folders without any dents or scratches.
It can be washed in the dishwasher at a low temperature but it's recommended to wash it by hand with a non abrasive sponge so that the paint doesn't come off. You can use it for any liquids you like - hot or cold, fizzy or still - but you should be aware that it's not insulated so if you fill it up with hot liquids, the sides of the bottle will get hot too, unlike an insulated flask.
It's a great product on all levels - it's practical, avoids potential health issues, is better for the environment (less plastic bottles to buy) and Sophie thinks it's beautiful. What more could you ask for ?!
star rating : 5/5
RRP : £9.99
for more information : http://www.afinechoice.co.uk/
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I also use these bottles for my son. and the design is lovely!
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